It’s become a real trend on the music app Spotify to find out which songs, artists and genres you’ve been listening to over the course of the year as part of their ‘your year wrapped’ tool. I thought I’d do something similar on Liverpool’s 2020, looking at the club’s most used players, scorers, results, opponents, kits and stadiums. Some of it certainly makes for interesting, and surprising, reading.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
2020 Player Appearances
46: Roberto Firmino
45: Mohamed Salah
44: Georginio Wijnaldum
43: Andy Robertson
42: Sadio Mane
41: Fabinho
39: Trent Alexander-Arnold
36: Alisson Becker
34: Joe Gomez
32: Jordan Henderson
30: Virgil Van Dijk
29: Takumi Minamino
27: Curtis Jones
26: Divock Origi, James Milner
24: Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
20: Neco Williams
17: Diogo Jota
13: Joel Matip
10: Adrian San Miguel, Rhys Williams
8: Adam Lallana, Xherdan Shaqiri
6: Harvey Elliott
4: Caoimhin Kelleher, Nathaniel Phillips, Kostas Tsimikas
3: Pedro Chirivella, Dejan Lovren, Thiago Alcantara
2: Yasser Larouci, Rhian Brewster, Marko Grujic, Leighton Clarkson
1: Ki-Jana Hoever, Sepp Van Den Berg, Adam Lewis, Jake Cain, Liam Millar, Joe Hardy, Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Morgan Boyes, Harry Wilson, Billy Koumetio
2020 Goalscorers
26: Mohamed Salah
15: Sadio Mane
9: Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino
6: Curtis Jones
5: Own Goal
4: Georginio Wijnaldum, Takumi Minamino, Jordan Henderson
3: Virgil Van Dijk, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
2: Divock Origi, Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold
1: Xherdan Shaqiri, Marko Grujic, Fabinho, Naby Keita, Joel Matip
2020 Results
7: 1-1 Draw
6: 2-0 Win, 1-0 Win
5: 2-1 Win
3: 0-0 Draw, 3-1 Win, 4-0 Win
2: 2-0 Loss, 2-2 Draw
1: 3-0 Loss, 7-0 Win, 3-2 Win, 1-0 Loss, 3-0 Win, 3-2 Loss, 7-2 Win, 2-1 Loss, 5-3 Win, 7-2 Loss, 4-0 Loss, 5-0 Win, 4-3 Win
2020 Opponents
4: Arsenal
3: Everton, Chelsea, West Ham United
2: Ajax, Aston Villa, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Brighton and Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, FC Midtjylland, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Shrewsbury Town, Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves
1: Bournemouth, Burnley, Fulham, Leeds United, Leicester City, Lincoln City, Manchester United, Norwich City, Southampton, Watford, West Bromwich Albion
2020 Kits
22: 2019/20 Home
21: 2020/21 Home
3: 2020/21 Third
2: 2019/20 Third
1: 2019/20 Away, 2020/21 Away
2020 Stadiums
24: Anfield
2: AMEX Stadium, Etihad Stadium, Goodison Park, St James Park, Stamford Bridge
1: Amsterdam Arena, Carrow Road, Craven Cottage, Emirates Stadium, Gewiss Stadium, London Stadium, MCH Arena, Molineux, New Meadow, Selhurst Park, Sincil Bank, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Vicarage Road, Villa Park, Wanda Metropolitano, Wembley Stadium
Source: https://www.liverpoolfc.com
2020 Month-by-Month review
January
2020 started with a comfortable and controlled 2-0 win over Sheffield United at Anfield, a result that, in honesty, was to be expected. But there was nothing predictable about a very young Liverpool team knocking a full-strength Everton out of the FA Cup in the third round, courtesy of a screamer from Curtis Jones. 1-0 was a familiar scoreline the following weekend, a brilliant individual goal from Roberto Firmino proving to be enough as the Reds moved closer to the title with a win at Tottenham. Two huge wins in the space of five days followed – first a famous 2-0 victory over Manchester United, Mohamed Salah putting the seal on the win in added time after a stunning assist from Alisson Becker, and then possibly the most hard-fought win of the season, away at Wolves, in which Firmino save the day late on after aa Raul Jimenez goal for the hosts. A much-changed Liverpool stuttered away at Shrewsbury in the FA Cup, prompting Jurgen Klopp to announce that he – and his first team – would not be attending the replay in February. It was cruise control in the capital as Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain earned an away win at West Ham to round off January.
February
The Reds’ wonderful league form continued with a 4-0 thrashing of Southampton at Anfield, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jordan Henderson and a double from Salah doing the damage. There were no familiar faces in the lineup for the next match though, the replay against Shrewsbury at Anfield. Despite Klopp not being in attendance, Neil Critchley’s team of U23’s pulled off a tremendous upset to beat the League One side 1-0 and advance to Round Five. Sadio Mane marked his return to action with a stunning winner at Carrow Road in another 1-0 victory as the league title edged closer. There was disappointment in Spain though, an early Saul Niguez goal meaning Liverpool would have to turn it around in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 clash with Atletico Madrid. There was another clumsy performance six days later in the league, as West Ham nearly inflicted the first league defeat on Liverpool, but three assists from Trent Alexander-Arnold proved to be crucial in a 3-2 win. Finally though, the long unbeaten run came to an end in the next match, an inspired Watford side beating Liverpool 3-0 to ensure there would be no invincibles campaign.
March
March was supposed to be the month of immense celebration for Liverpool. Two wins from their three scheduled league games would be enough to be crowned Premier League champions for the first time. However, it ended up being a month of frustration and an elongated wait. First, Liverpool’s hopes of an eighth FA Cup were dashed by defeat at Stamford Bridge, though they edged past Bournemouth in the league, Salah and Mane striking after the Cherries opened the scoring at Anfield. Arguably the most upsetting match of 2020 was the Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid, the Reds turning around the goal deficit with a magnificent dominant performance, Gini Wijnaldum and Firmino scoring to give Liverpool the lead. However, mistakes from Adrian, standing in for the injured Alisson Becker, allowed Atletico to score three goals in extra-time, meaning Liverpool’s defence of the Champions League title was over. Little did we know that this would be the last Liverpool match in more than three months.
June
After a warm-up match against Blackburn, Liverpool were finally back in action against Everton, in a Merseyside derby behind closed doors that was just as drab as the atmosphere, ending 0-0. Fortunately, in Liverpool’s return to Anfield, they were much more like it, thrashing Crystal Palace 4-0, with a free-kick from Alexander-Arnold, a stunner from Fabinho from distance, and customary goals for Salah and Mane. The next night, Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, meaning that Liverpool won their nineteenth league title and their first in the Premier League era. The celebrations of that night will live long in the memory as a lifelong dream for so many was finally realised.
July
Initially, Liverpool struggled in the games post-title win, being thrashed 4-0 by Manchester City and then stumbling to a 2-0 win over Aston Villa, though this did feature Curtis Jones’ first league goal. The Reds produced their best performance since the restart away at Brighton, a Salah double and a lovely strike from Henderson doing the trick. Though Andy Robertson opened the scoring at home to Burnley, the perfect Anfield league record was ruined by a second-half equaliser. Despite dominating away at Arsenal, the Gunners capitalised on some lapse defending to take a 2-1 win. After a thrilling 5-3 victory over Chelsea in the last home game of the season, featuring goals from Naby Keita, Alexander-Arnold, Wijnaldum, Firmino and Oxlade-Chamberlain, the moment had finally come. One by one, the players gathered onto the podium, and then eventually, Jordan Henderson ended 30 years of hurt by holding aloft the Premier League trophy. There was one final assignment of the 2019/20 season, a trip to Newcastle United, which Liverpool won 3-1. In the days that followed, announcements were made that Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren would leave the club after six years of service.
August
Liverpool’s first signing ahead of the 2020/21 season was Greek left-back Kostas Tsimikas, who first pulled on a Liverpool shirt in a 3-0 friendly win over Stuttgart. Liverpool then drew 2-2 with RB Salzburg, Rhian Brewster scoring both goals. However, Jurgen Klopp’s team first competitive match of the season was the Community Shield clash with Arsenal. Though Takumi Minamino cancelled out Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s opener, Liverpool were beaten on penalties, Brewster’s spot-kick hitting the bar, which proved to be his final touch for Liverpool before moving to Sheffield United permanently.
September
The warm-up for the new season concluded with a 7-2 win over League One Blackpool, and then all attentions were focused on newly-promoted Leeds United. A Salah hat-trick and a Van Dijk header saw off Leeds 4-3 in an exhilarating season opener. Between Leeds and the second fixture, away at Chelsea, Liverpool announced two major signings: the capture of midfielder Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich, and forward Diogo Jota from Wolves. Thiago’s debut came in the second half of a huge 2-0 win away at Chelsea, Mane netting both goals. The Reds’ League Cup campaign began at League One Lincoln City, who were dispatched 7-2, Jones and Minamino both netting braces. Next up in the league was Arsenal at Anfield, and Klopp’s team made amends for the Community Shield loss, coming from 1-0 down to win 3-1, Jota grabbing the third on debut.
October
Three days later, Liverpool met Arsenal at Anfield again, this time in the League Cup. After a 0-0 draw, Arsenal were the winners on penalties, Divock Origi and Harry Wilson seeing their strikes saved. Then came by far the worst result of the calendar year, a 7-2 thrashing away at Aston Villa, in which Joe Gomez and Adrian (who played over the injured Alisson) produced truly woeful displays. The response was good, with an excellent performance away at Everton in the following fixture, drawing 2-2 despite goals from Mane and Salah, and Henderson having one ruled out late on. This match also saw Van Dijk go off injured, a blow he is yet to return from, while Thiago, who won man-of-the-match, was also kept out for more than two months after picking up an injury. Liverpool’s injury crisis was not stopping their progress in Europe, starting their Champions League group with a 1-0 win away at Ajax, Fabinho making a goal-line clearance from centre-back (Joel Matip was also missing through injury). Klopp’s team got back on track in the league with an Anfield win over Sheffield United, Firmino and Jota with the goals, before Jota and Salah secured a second Champions League win, this time over Midtjylland, a game in which Klopp made a lot of personnel changes. There was another league victory, this time on Halloween, over West Ham. Again, it was earned the hard way, from behind, a Salah penalty and a late Jota strike making sure of three points.
November
Diogo Jota’s wonderful form continued in the Champions League trip to Atalanta, where a magnificent Liverpool performance saw off the Italians 5-0, a hat-trick from the former Wolves man as well as goals from Salah and Mane. The Reds really went for it away at Manchester City, starting a front four of Jota/Salah/Firmino and Mane, and deservedly took the lead through a Salah penalty, though this was cancelled out by a Gabriel Jesus goal, meaning both teams had to settle for a draw. During the international break, Joe Gomez sustained a long-term injury, meaning Liverpool’s centre-back options were even lighter. A superb win over Leicester City came next, Jota and Firmino adding to an own goal from Jonny Evans. Atalanta got their revenge at Anfield for the previous thrashing, running out 2-0 winners, and there was more disappointment for Liverpool when Jota’s opener at Brighton was levelled by a controversial penalty for the Seagulls as more points were dropped on the road.
December
The Reds qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League with a massive win over Ajax at Anfield, Caoimhin Kelleher keeping a clean sheet as he replaced the unavailable Alisson, with startlet Curtis Jones scoring the winner. The Reds followed this up with one of their best performances of the season, demolishing Wolves 4-0 at Anfield, and in front of a crowd for the first time since March – Salah, Wijnaldum, Matip and an own goal treating the 2000 in attendance. The final game of the Champions League group stage was a trip to Denmark to take on Midtjylland. Despite the irrelevant nature of the game, Klopp went stronger than expected with his selection, a move which angered some, with Jota ruled out for a period after picking up an injury in the 1-1 draw. There was another frustrating 1-1 away at Fulham, Salah scoring a penalty to rescue a point in a poor performance. Then came arguably the most important result of the season so far – a 2-1 win over Tottenham, who at the time, were top of the league. Salah’s opener was countered by a goal from Heung-Min Son, though Firmino sent the 2000 fans at Anfield into raptures to secure an enormous win. This was followed up with a breathtaking 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, with Salah and Firmino’s braces being supplemented by goals from Minamino, Mane and Henderson. The familiar foe of a 1-1 scoreline returned just after Christmas, Sam Allardyce’s West Brom denying Liverpool a win at Anfield, and it was another drab draw away at Newcastle to round off 2020.
Daniel Daykin
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